Triangle Plume
Platyptilia gonodactyla
This record describes Platyptilia gonodactyla (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20-30 mm. A pale species with bold markings towards the wing tips (the markings are often chestnut coloured). The adults fly in two generations; one in May and June and a second in the autumn. They are regularly attracted to light. The larvae feed in the stems and flowers of Coltsfoot. This relatively common member of the 'Plume' moths has a widespread distribution in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Pterophoridae
- Genus
- Platyptilia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open, grassy habitats and waste ground.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in two generations; one in May and June and a second in the autumn. They are regularly attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the stems and flowers of Coltsfoot.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This relatively common member of the 'Plume' moths has a widespread distribution in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Platyptilia gonodactyla. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Triangle Plume (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Triangle Plume
What is Triangle Plume?
Triangle Plume (Platyptilia gonodactyla) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Triangle Plume found?
Habitat: Open, grassy habitats and waste ground.
When is Triangle Plume active?
Triangle Plume: seasonal activity - The adults fly in two generations; one in May and June and a second in the autumn. They are regularly attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Triangle Plume?
The larvae feed in the stems and flowers of Coltsfoot.